Nozzle control system and method

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for nozzle control. The system includes an overall system pressure valve, configured to adjust the pressure of an agricultural product within a boom. A master node is configured to receive an overall system flow rate measurement, an overall target flow rate, and an overall system pressure measurement, the master node configured to adjust the overall system pressure valve to control the pressure of the agricultural product. A plurality of smart nozzles are configured to dispense the agricultural product, the plurality of smart nozzles each associated with an electronic control unit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzle, the smart nozzle is configured to control a nozzle flow rate of the associated one or more individual nozzles.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/029,935, filed Apr. 15, 2016, which is a U.S. National StageFiling under 35 U.S.C. 371 from International Application No.PCT/US2014/061150, filed Oct. 17, 2014, and published as WO 2015/058091on Apr. 23, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/892,339, filed on Oct. 17,2013, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and dataas described below and in the drawings that form a part of thisdocument: Copyright Raven Industries; Sioux Falls, S. Dak.; All RightsReserved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to anozzle control system and method for the application of products(granular, fluid, or gaseous) to crops or a field.

BACKGROUND

Agricultural sprayers are used to distribute agricultural products, suchas fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, to a field orcrops. Agricultural sprayers include one or more distribution booms thatare long enough (e.g., 60 feet to 150 feet) to spray multiple rows ofcrops in a single pass. Agricultural fields are often irregular in shapeand contain one or more of contour changes, tree lines, hillsides,ponds, or streams. Irregular shapes and contour changes can providechallenges in even distribution of agricultural products and can lead towaste of the agricultural product. Additionally, the configuration ofthe agricultural sprayer itself may cause unpredictable variation inapplication of the agricultural product.

Agricultural sprayers include a reservoir for a carrier substance. Thereservoir is in communication, by way of a header tube, or pipe, with aplurality of sections provided along one or more carrier booms (e.g.,boom tubes along the booms). The header is the main line extendingbetween the reservoir and the carrier booms. Each of the plurality ofsections includes multiple sprayer nozzles that distribute the carriersubstance received by the section. The carrier substance includes thecarrier substance, such as water, and, in one example, agriculturalproducts dispersed into the carrier substance, for instance herbicides,pesticides, fertilizers, or the like.

Overview

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that aproblem to be solved can include controlling dispersion of anagricultural product, such as from an agricultural sprayer boom. In anexample, the present subject matter can provide a solution to thisproblem, such as by providing a nozzle control system and method capableof determining a nozzle specific flow rate for each nozzle on the boomand controlling the flow rate for each nozzle on the boom. Such a systemincludes an electronic control unit at each nozzle configured to receiveand manipulate a number of inputs, such as nozzle position on a boom,length of the boom, nozzle spacing, yaw rate of the boom, target nozzleflow rate for the system, yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer, speed ofthe agricultural sprayer, the overall system pressure, agriculturalproduct characteristics. That is, the present subject matter can providea solution to the above problem by controlling the flow rate at eachnozzle to provide a uniform distribution of agricultural product over afield.

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that aproblem to be solved can include controlling dispersion of anagricultural product, such as from an agricultural sprayer boom,according to field or crop specific characteristics. In an example, thepresent subject matter can provide a solution to this problem, such asby providing a nozzle control system and method including one or morelocation fiducials associated with the system, the one or more locationfiducials configured to mark the location of one or more nozzles of theplurality of nozzles on a field map. Further, each of the nozzles of theplurality of nozzles of the system is configured to dispense theagricultural product at individual rates according to the location theone or more nozzles of the plurality of nozzles on the field map.

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that aproblem to be solved can include boom, row, or section control of anagricultural delivery system. In an example, the present subject mattercan provide a solution to this problem, such as by providing greatercontrol to individual sections or rows of an agricultural productdelivery system by a control method and system for delivering anagricultural product configured through flow rate control of theagricultural product at each individual nozzle or nozzle group of theagricultural delivery system.

This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter ofthe present patent application. It is not intended to provide anexclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detaileddescription is included to provide further information about the presentpatent application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way oflimitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an agricultural sprayer.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one example of an agricultural sprayer and anagricultural field.

FIG. 3 is one example of a field moisture content map including cropmoisture content values associated with corresponding field locations.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic view of an overall nozzle controlsystem.

FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic view of an exemplary nozzle controlsystem.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic view of a nozzle ECU.

FIG. 7 is an alternative exemplary schematic view of a nozzle ECU.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing one example of a method forcontrolling nozzle flow rate on an agricultural sprayer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an agricultural sprayer 10 includes areservoir tank 2, one or more sprayer booms 4, including one or morenozzles 5, one or more electronic control units (ECU) 7 (e.g., amicroprocessor based system), and a master node 6. (e.g., amicroprocessor based system) In an example, the agricultural sprayer 10includes an integral reservoir tank 2 or a tow behind reservoir tank.The reservoir tank 2, in an example, includes the agricultural productmixed with a carrier fluid, such as water, or the carrier fluid and theagricultural product are mixed in-line prior to or at the sprayer boom4. The nozzles 5 are positioned along the sprayer boom 4 to deliver theagricultural product to a crop or an agricultural field 8. Cropsinclude, but are not limited to, any product grown in an agriculturalfield, such as row and non-row based crops. Agricultural productsinclude, but are not limited to, fertilizers, water, pesticides,fungicides, herbicides, or the like. As shown, the agricultural sprayer10 includes master node 6, as described herein. The master node 6, aswill be discussed herein, operates in conjunction with the one or moreECU 7 to control delivery of the agricultural product from the reservoirtank 2, to the sprayer boom 4 and the associated nozzles 5 for deliveryto the agricultural field or crop.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, an example of an agricultural sprayer 10 isprovided in an agricultural field 8 and delivering an agriculturalproduct. The agricultural sprayer 10 includes a tow behind reservoirtank 2, one or more sprayer booms 4 (e.g., dual booms extending from thecenter of the sprayer 10), and the master node 6. As described herein,the controller 6 controls delivery of the agricultural product to theagricultural field 8 or crops.

FIG. 3 is a demonstrative example of a field map 30. Optionally theyield map 30 includes but is not limited to providing a visualrepresentation of agricultural product delivery instructions, such as,but not limited to, a soil characteristic, crop yield, agriculturalproduct instructions, or any combination thereof. A zoomed in portion ofthe field map 30 is shown in the bottom view of FIG. 3. As shown by wayof varying stippling, shading, or the like a plurality of zones 32accordingly has corresponding agricultural product delivery instructions(e.g., agricultural product type or flow rate, etc.), magnitude of thecomparison, or type of calibration instruction. For instance, as shownin FIG. 3, a plurality of zones 32 having a varying agricultural productdelivery instructions are associated with the one or more zones 32.Accordingly each of the zones 32 includes in one example an array ofinformation including the agricultural product delivery instructions.The field map 30 accordingly provides a representation to the operatorof the agricultural product delivery demands during an agriculturalproduct delivery operation. Information provided by the field map 30 isoptionally used for instance to determine better husbandry techniques,planting strategies and the like for the field in the next season.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the plurality of zones 32 include sub-zones34. As shown, each of the zones and sub-zones has different stippling,shading or the like associated with the true harvested cropcharacteristic. Optionally the sub-zones 34 (or any of the plurality ofzones 32) have varying stippling, shading or coloring techniques or anycombination thereof to accordingly provide indications of calibrationinstructions, magnitude of comparisons, or both. As shown in FIG. 3, byway of the stippling, shading, coloring or the like the agriculturalproduct delivery instructions vary between each of the zones 32. Asshown for instance, each of the sub-zones 34 the stippling is differentbetween the zones thereby indicating agricultural product deliveryinstructions, such as agricultural product type, there between varies.Optionally the field map 30 provides one or more interactive zones 32.For instance the user is able to zoom in and examine each of the zones32 accordingly allowing for instance through a graphical user interfaceinteraction with the field map 30 to accordingly determine theagricultural product delivery instructions of one or a plurality of thezones 32.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary overall nozzle controlsystem 40, wherein one or more nozzles 52 located on a boom 50 arecapable of controlling a respective nozzle flow rate of an agriculturalproduct dispensed from the nozzle 52. As shown in FIG. 4, a master node42 is further communicatively coupled to one or more valves of the boom51, such that system pressure within the boom 50 can be controlled bythe master node 42. However, unlike prior systems, the master node 42 ofthe current system is not configured to control the flow rate within thesystem 40, boom 50, or at the smart nozzles 52. The master node 42includes inputs from a master flowmeter 44, a master pressure transducer46, and a master pulse width modulation (PWM) valve 48. The master nodecontrols 42 the master PWM valve 48 so as to maintain the targetedsystem pressure, such that a desired droplet size of the agriculturalproduct is obtained out of the nozzles 52. For example, environmentalconditions, such as wind, humidity, rain, or temperature, fieldcharacteristics, or user preference determine whether a smaller orlarger droplet size of the agricultural product is preferred. Bymaintaining a constant system pressure, the preferred droplet size canbe obtained and maintained by the current system.

In the exemplary embodiment, each of the nozzles 52 is a smart nozzlethat includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that regulates,determines, and/or controls the nozzle flow rate of the agriculturalproduct dispensed from the nozzle 52, as discussed in reference to FIG.5. In other embodiments, a group of nozzles 52 are associated with acommon ECU and as a group be considered a single smart nozzle. The smartnozzles 52 are connected to a boom 50 and communicatively coupled to acontroller area network 49 (e.g., ISO CAN bus) of the overall controlsystem 40. As discussed herein, the CAN bus 49 is configured to provideoverall system information from the master node 42 (e.g., master node).The ECU at each smart nozzle 52 uses data from the overall systeminformation to regulate, determine, and/or control the nozzle flow rateof each corresponding smart nozzle 52.

The master node 42 controls a system pressure using, for example, themaster PSI transducer 46 and the master pulse width modulation (PWM)valve 48, instead of controlling a system flow rate. Although FIG. 4illustrates a PWM valve as the master valve 48, embodiments are not solimited. For example, the master valve 48 includes any valve capable ofcontrolling pressure of a system, such as, for example, a ball valve, aPWM valve, or a butterfly valve. For instance, the master node 42maintains the system pressure at a target system value in contrast toaffirmatively controlling the agricultural product flow rate, and theflow rate is controlled at each smart nozzle 52. In another example, themaster node controls the system pressure to one or more target valuesand the smart nozzles 52 control the flow rate at each of the smartnozzles 52 and, therefore, the overall agricultural product flow rate ofthe system.

In an example, the target system pressure is provided by a user, such asat the User Interface 56 (UI) connected to the master node 42 by the ISOCAN bus 53. In an additional example, the user also provides a targetsystem flow rate (e.g., volume/area) at the UI. In an example, themaster node 42 provides the target system flow rate to each of the oneor more smart nozzle 52, such that each smart nozzle 52 (or each ECU, asdiscussed herein) determines an individual agricultural product flowrate for the smart nozzle 52. For example, the system target flow rateis divided by the number of nozzles to provide 52 a target agriculturalproduct flow rate for each of the one or more nozzles 52. In an example,the master node measures the flow rate (e.g., volume per time) with amaster flow meter 44 and compares it with the overall target flow rate(e.g., designated by one or more of the user, crop type, soilcharacteristic, agricultural product type, historical data, or thelike). The master node 42 is configured to determine a difference orerror, if present, between the measured system flow rate and the targetsystem flow rate. In such an example, the master node 42 provides thedetermined difference, by the ISO CAN bus 53, to the individual nozzles52 (or ECUs, as discussed herein). The one or more nozzles 52 receivethe difference on the CAN bus 53 and adjust their pressure/flow/dutycycle curve using the difference (e.g., compensating for errors in thesystem) to reduce the error between the measured and target system flowrates.

Additionally, in at least some examples, the master node 42 reports theactual pressure, measured by the master PSI transducer 46, as well asboom 50 information, including, but not limited to, one or more of yawrate, speed, number of smart nozzles of the boom, distance between smartnozzles on the boom, to the smart nozzles 52 (or ECUs, as describedherein) for individual flow rate control of each of the smart nozzles52. For example, the information provided from the master node 42 isused in addition to nozzle characteristics to control the individualflow rate control of each smart nozzle 52. Nozzle characteristicsinclude, but are not limited to nozzle position on a boom, length of theboom, nozzle spacing, target flow rate for the system, yaw rate of theboom, yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer, speed of the agriculturalsprayer, the overall system pressure, agricultural productcharacteristics. The system 40 is configured to be installed on anagricultural sprayer, and as such, since the sprayer moves duringoperation (translates and rotates), the one or more nozzlecharacteristics, in an example, are dynamic and accordingly changes theindividual flow rate.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed schematic view of an exemplary nozzlecontrol system 60. The control system 60 includes a master node 62communicatively coupled to one or more valves of the boom 70, such thatsystem pressure within the boom can be controlled by the master node 62.Further, the master node 62 includes inputs from a master flowmeter 64,a master pressure transducer 66, and a master pulse width modulation(PWM) valve 68. Further, as described herein, the master node is coupledto a UI 76 and, in an example, a battery 78, so as to provide power toone or more of the master node 62 and UI 76.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, a smart nozzle includes an ECU 72coupled to a PWM valve 73. That is, FIG. 5 illustrates 36 ECUs relatingdirectly to 36 nozzles of the nozzle control system 60, but embodimentsare not so limited. A master node 62 is communicatively coupled, by ISOCAN bus 69 to ECU-18 and ECU-19, wherein ECU-18 72 and ECU-19 72 definea center region of the boom. From the center region of the boom, theECUs 72 are communicatively coupled to the most proximate ECU 72 in thedirection toward each terminal end 74 of the boom. That is, ECU-18 iscommunicatively couple to ECU-17, which is communicatively coupled toECU-16, and so forth until the terminator after ECU-1 is reached. Thesame pattern holds for the other half of the boom. Although 36 ECUs 72are illustrated, embodiments are not so limited. Further, as shown inFIG. 5, each ECU 72 is coupled to one PWM valve 73, however, embodimentsare not so limited. For example, a single ECU 72 is communicativelycoupled to more than one PWM valve 73. Said another way, a single ECU72, in an example, is communicatively coupled to more than one nozzle,such as, for example, every other nozzle. In an example, 12 ECUs splitcontrol of the 36 nozzles of the boom. In an example, a plurality ofnozzles are partitioned into nozzle groups, such that each nozzle groupincludes an ECU 72 configured to control a nozzle group flow rate of theagricultural product dispensed from each nozzle of the nozzle groupbased on the nozzle characteristics, as described herein, of therespective nozzles. Benefits of such embodiments include reducing costs.Thus, a smart nozzle is a single nozzle and an associated ECU or is agroup of nozzles associated with a common ECU.

In still another example, the system 60 includes one or more locationfiducials associated with the system 60, the one or more locationfiducials are configured to mark the location of one or more nozzles (orECUs) of the plurality of nozzles on a field map (e.g., indexed withproduct flow rates, moisture content, crop type, agricultural producttype, or the like). Optionally, each of the nozzles, nozzle groups, orECUs 72 of the system is configured to control the agricultural productat individual rates according to the location the one or more nozzles(or ECUs 72) of the plurality of nozzles on the field map (andoptionally in addition to the nozzle characteristics described herein).Further, the each of the plurality of nozzles (or ECUs 72) can becycled, such as on/off, according to the nozzle's (or nozzle group's orECU's 72) location on the field. This is in contrast to previousapproaches which required all the nozzles of a section of the boom to beshut off or turned on at the same time.

In an example, each nozzle ECU 72 is programmable to receive, track, ormanipulate designated nozzle control factors. For example, each ECU 72focuses on nozzle spacing, target flow rate for the system, and speed ofthe agricultural sprayer while ignoring yaw rate, nozzle location on thefield, etc. Such examples provide the benefit of simplifying the systemto user specifications, provide greater programmability of the system,and providing cost effective nozzle specific flow rate solutions. In yetanother example, the ECUs 72 associated with each nozzle are insteadconsolidated into one or more centralized nodes that determine theindividual flow rates of each of the respective nozzles in a similarmanner to the previously described ECUs 72 associated with each of thenozzles.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic view of an ECU 80. The ECU 80 includestwo connectors, including a 4-pin thermistor 84 and a 12-pin connector82-A, and an LED 86. The LED 86, in an example, is indicates thereadiness state of the smart nozzle. In an example, the LED 86 is amulti-color LED, wherein a specific color shown along with a rate atwhich the LED 86 flashes indicates if the smart nozzle is in an errormode, including what type of error, warning state, ready state, activelycontrolling state, or the like. The 4-pin thermistor 84 includes, in anexample, a number of control aspects, such as, but not limited to, valveand thermistor. The 12-ping connector 82-A includes, in an example, anumber of control aspects, such as but not limited to any specificconfiguration, power, ground, nozzle startup, location recognition. Suchpin indexing, in an example, is applicable to a smart nozzle or the ISOCAN bus. The lines with arrows signify 88 a cable to daisy-chain ECU82-A to a 12-pin connector 82-B including pins 83-B, althoughembodiments are not so limited. The ECU 80 controls the nozzle flow ratebased on a number of parameters, including, but not limited to: speed ofthe sprayer or boom, yaw rate, target system flow rate (e.g.volume/area), and on/off command at runtime. Such parameters permits theECU 80 to calibrate the duty cycle curve (e.g., the duty cycle curveprovided by a nozzle manufacturer) of each smart nozzle needed toachieve the target nozzle flow rate of each of the smart nozzles. Eachsmart nozzle is further configured according to nozzle spacing on theboom, location on the boom, and nozzle type. Further, each smart nozzlecan regulate or control the nozzle flow rate based on the location ofthe nozzle in the field (as described above).

In an example, the ECU 80 further includes the thermistor 84 so as toprovide temperature sensitive control of the nozzle. For example, aspower is provided to the thermistor 84, the thermistor 84 heats up,consequently changing the resistivity of the thermistor 84. Theagricultural product flows over the thermistor 84, reducing the heat ofthe thermistor 84 and altering the resistivity of the thermistor 84. Inan example, the changes in resistivity of the thermistor 84 are used toindicate or determine that a nozzle is fouled, clogged, or the like. Inanother example, a pressure sensor or transducer is configured tomeasure the pressure after each of the PWM valves (e.g., 73, FIG. 5). Inan example the pressure transducer is attached to each smart nozzle orplugged as an add-on feature.

In a further example, the overall system data (e.g., actual flow ratecompared to targeted flow rate, maintained pressure vs. targetedpressure, etc.) is used to calibrate one or more thermistors. Thecalibrated thermistor 84 of the smart nozzle is then used to furthercalibrate the duty cycle curve of the corresponding smart nozzle.Benefits of such examples, provide a more accurate, configurable, andefficient smart nozzle for application of an agricultural product.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative exemplary view of an ECU 90. The ECU90 includes a 6-pin 93 connector 92 and an LED 94 on the circuit board.In such an example, each ECU 90 is wired to one another or wired to acentrally located hub. Although nozzle control systems and methodsdescribed herein and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 reference a PWM master valvecommunicatively coupled to the master node, embodiments are not solimited. For example, other valves are contemplated. Further, examplesherein are described in relation to an agricultural sprayer, but otherembodiments, such as, but not limited to, planters or toolbars, arecontemplated.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing one example of a method 100 forcontrolling nozzle flow rate on an agricultural sprayer having a boomwith a plurality of nozzles. In describing the method 100, reference ismade to features and elements previously described herein, although notnumbered. At 102, the method 100 includes determining a speed of anagricultural sprayer, an overall flow rate of a plurality of nozzles,and yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer. In an example, the speed ofthe agricultural sprayer is determined by a GPS module, anaccelerometer, a speedometer, tachometer, or the like. In an example,the overall flow rate of the plurality of nozzles is determined by a sumof the individual flow rates of each of the plurality of nozzles or ismeasured by a flow meter. In an example, the yaw rate is determined by ayaw sensor coupled to the boom, master node, or agricultural sprayer todetect a yaw of the hull and provide a yaw signal. At 104, a pressure ofan agricultural product in a boom is controlled by a pressure valve incommunication with the master node. At 106, the method 100 includescalculating, using at least one of the speed, the overall flow rate, andthe yaw rate, a target nozzle flow rate of at least a portion of theplurality of nozzles. As described herein, at 108 the method 100includes controlling the nozzle flow rate of the portion of theplurality of nozzles.

In an example, the method includes determining a boom section flow rate,including a portion of the plurality of nozzles, based on at least oneof the speed, the overall flow rate, and the yaw rate and controllingthe flow rate of the boom section. For example, the boom sectioncorresponds to a nozzle group, as described herein, such as a pluralityof nozzles controlled by a common ECU. As described herein, controllingincludes controlling each of the nozzles of the plurality of nozzles todispense the agricultural product at individual rates according to thelocation the one or more nozzles of the plurality of nozzles on a fieldmap. Further, the current method 100 includes controlling the pressureof the boom is independent of controlling the nozzle flow rate of theportion of the plurality of nozzles.

Another example embodiment will now be described. In this embodiment,the master node handles a number of functions in the system. Itcommunicates with the pump and a pressure sensor in order to regulatepressure in the system to a desired target pressure. It alsocommunicates with a flow sensor to obtain an actual overall flow rate.The master node further receives vehicle speed data from a GPS system,yaw rate from a yaw sensor and a target volume/area of an agricultureproduct (typically input by a user).

The master node also provides error correction for the system by loopingthrough each smart nozzle and calculating each smart nozzle's flow rate.The master node determines this flow rate based on vehicle speed, yawrate, the location of the nozzle on the boom and the target volume perarea. The master node then sums the flow rates and compares this sum tothe actual overall system flow rate to determine an error percentage.The error percentage is then provided on the CAN bus for the smartnozzles to change their flow rate.

The master node also checks for saturation points in the flow range forthe smart nozzles to make the percent error more accurate. For example,if the master node calculates a flow rate for a smart nozzle thatexceeds the nozzle's maximum flow rate, then the master node uses themaximum nozzle flow rate rather than the calculated nozzle flow ratewhen summing the rates to determine an overall flow rate. The masternode in this embodiment does not control the flow rates of the smartnozzles themselves.

Each smart nozzle independently calculates and controls its own flowrate based on CAN bus data from the master node. In an example, eachnozzle performs its own flow rate calculation independent from the othernozzles. In particular, the master node transmits vehicle speed, yawrate, boom width, location of each nozzle on the boom, target volume perarea for the applied product, and the error correction. Using this dataprovided on the CAN bus, each smart nozzle determines its own flow rate,adjusted for the error correction determined by the master node.

The flow rate for a smart nozzle is obtained by multiplying variousinputs together (e.g., speed, yaw rate, volume/area). The system (e.g.,the master node) can also apply logic (such as if-then statements) todetermine whether a smart nozzle should be on or off. For example, ifthere is an error or the master switch is off, the target rate may notbe applied to the smart nozzle and the smart nozzle may be shut off.

NOTES AND EXAMPLES

Example 1 can include subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, ameans for performing acts, or a machine readable medium includinginstructions that, when performed by the machine, that can cause themachine to perform acts), such as a method of controlling nozzle flowrate of an agricultural product on an agricultural sprayer having aplurality of smart nozzles each associated with an electronic controlunit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzles, comprising: determining aspeed of the agricultural sprayer, an overall target flow rate of theplurality of smart nozzles, and a yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer;controlling a pressure of the agricultural product of the agriculturalsprayer using a master node; determining a target nozzle flow rate foreach smart nozzle using at least one of the speed, the overall targetflow rate, and the yaw rate; and controlling with each respective smartnozzle, the nozzle flow rate of the associated one or more individualnozzles based on the target nozzle flow rate for the respective smartnozzle.

Example 2 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of Example 1 to optionally include wherein determining the targetnozzle flow rate for each smart nozzle includes determining at each ofthe smart nozzles the target nozzle flow rate for the respective smartnozzle.

Example 3 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 1 or 2 to optionallyinclude further comprising: calculating a boom section flow rate, theboom section including a portion of the plurality of smart nozzles,based on at least one of the speed, the overall target flow rate, andthe yaw rate; and

controlling the boom section flow rate.

Example 4 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 1-3 to optionally includefurther comprising controlling the nozzle flow rate of each of the smartnozzles to dispense the agricultural product at individual ratesaccording to the location of each of the smart nozzles or individualnozzles on a field map.

Example 5 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 1-4 to optionally includewherein controlling the pressure of the agricultural product isperformed independent of controlling the target nozzle flow rate foreach of the smart nozzles.

Example 6 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 1-5 to optionally includewherein controlling the nozzle flow rate includes determining an on/offstate of one or more of the plurality of smart nozzles.

Example 7 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 1-6 to optionally includefurther comprising calculating an error with the master node, including:determining the nozzle flow rate of each of the smart nozzles based onthe speed, the yaw rate, the location of the smart nozzle on the boom,and the target overall target flow rate of each of the smart nozzles;summing the nozzle flow rate of each of the smart nozzles; comparing thesum to an actual overall system flow rate to provide an errorpercentage; and providing the error percentage to each of the smartnozzles.

Example 8 can include subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, ameans for performing acts, or a machine readable medium includinginstructions that, when performed by the machine, that can cause themachine to perform acts), such as a system for controlling nozzle flowrate, comprising: an overall system pressure valve, configured to adjustthe pressure of an agricultural product within a boom; a master nodeconfigured to receive an overall system flow rate measurement, anoverall target flow rate, and an overall system pressure measurement,the master node configured to adjust the overall system pressure valveto control the pressure of the agricultural product; and a plurality ofsmart nozzles configured to dispense the agricultural product, theplurality of smart nozzles each associated with an electronic controlunit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzle, the smart nozzle isconfigured to control a nozzle flow rate of the associated one or moreindividual nozzles

Example 9 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of Example 8 to optionally include wherein each ECU is configuredto receive at least one measurement of the agricultural sprayer from themaster node including a speed of the boom, an overall system flow rate,and a yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer.

Example 10 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8 or 9 to optionallyinclude wherein each ECU is configured to calibrate a duty cycle curveof the respective smart nozzle based on an actual smart nozzleperformance.

Example 11 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8-10 to optionally includewherein each ECU is configured to adjust the smart nozzle flow rate ofthe agricultural product dispensed at each associated individual nozzleaccording to a difference between the overall target flow rate and theoverall system flow rate measurement.

Example 12 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8-11 to optionally includefurther comprising a master flow meter to provide the overall systemflow rate measurement.

Example 13 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8-12 to optionally includewherein the overall system flow rate measurement is determined at themaster node as a sum of each smart nozzle.

Example 14 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8-13 to optionally includefurther comprising a locating module including one or more locationfiducials associated with the system, the one or more location fiducialsconfigured to mark the location of one or more of the plurality smartnozzles on a field map.

Example 15 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 8-14 to optionally includewherein in the flow rate of the agricultural product dispensed from theplurality smart nozzles is controlled according to the one or morelocation fiducials.

Example 16 can include subject matter (such as an apparatus, a method, ameans for performing acts, or a machine readable medium includinginstructions that, when performed by the machine, that can cause themachine to perform acts), such as a system for controlling nozzle flowrate of an agricultural product on an agricultural sprayer having aplurality of smart nozzles each associated with an electronic controlunit (ECU) and one or more individual nozzles, comprising: an overallsystem pressure valve, configured to adjust the pressure of theagricultural product within the agricultural sprayer; and a master nodeconfigured to receive an overall system flow rate measurement and anoverall system pressure measurement, the master node configured toadjust the overall system pressure valve to control the pressure of theagricultural product, wherein each of the plurality of smart nozzles isconfigured to dispense the agricultural product from the one or moreassociated individual nozzles at an individual rate based on nozzlecharacteristics of the one or more associated individual nozzles

Example 17 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of Example 16 to optionally include wherein the nozzlecharacteristics vary with one or more of a smart nozzle or an individualnozzle position on a boom, length of the boom, an individual or smartnozzle spacing, yaw rate of the boom, target flow rate for the system,yaw rate of the agricultural sprayer, speed of the agricultural sprayer,the overall system pressure, agricultural product characteristics.

Example 18 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 16 or 17 to optionallyinclude comprising one or more location fiducials associated with thesystem, the one or more location fiducials configured to mark thelocation of one or more smart nozzles of the plurality of smart nozzleson a field map.

Example 19 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 16-18 to optionally includewherein each of the smart nozzles is configured to dispense theagricultural product at individual rates according to the location theone or more smart nozzles of the plurality of nozzles on the field map.

Example 20 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subjectmatter of one or any combination of Examples 16-19 to optionally includewherein the ECU is configured to control a collective nozzle flow rateof the smart nozzles based on the nozzle characteristics of theassociated nozzles.

Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can becombined in any permutation or combination with any one or more of theother examples.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described areprovided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and anydocuments so incorporated by reference, the usage in this documentcontrols.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implementedat least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable mediumor machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable toconfigure an electronic device to perform methods as described in theabove examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, suchas microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, orthe like. Such code can include computer readable instructions forperforming various methods. The code may form portions of computerprogram products. Further, in an example, the code can be tangiblystored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangiblecomputer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times.Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but arenot limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable opticaldisks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes,memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read onlymemories (ROMs), and the like.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to allowthe reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used tointerpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in theabove Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together tostreamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intendingthat an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather,inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of aparticular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it iscontemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other invarious combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention shouldbe determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. (canceled)
 2. A sprayer control system configured to control spraycharacteristics of spray nozzles, the sprayer control system comprising:a master node configured for coupling with one or more of a systempressure valve or a system pump, the master node is configured to:control the system pressure of a liquid agricultural product, anddetermine an error correction, the error correction based on thedifference between an actual system flow rate and a sum of target flowrates; and a plurality of smart nozzles, each of the smart nozzlesincludes at least one control valve and an electronic control unit (ECU)in communication with the master node, the at least one control valveand the ECU are configured to control a component flow rate of liquidagricultural product through one or more spray nozzles, each smartnozzle is configured to: determine the target flow rate for the one ormore spray nozzles with the ECU, determine a duty cycle for the one ormore spray nozzles with the ECU, the duty cycle based on the target flowrate and the error correction, and operate the at least one controlvalve to deliver the liquid agricultural product to the one or spraynozzles according to the duty cycle.
 3. The sprayer control system ofclaim 2, wherein the master node is configured to control the systempressure of the liquid agricultural product independently relative tothe duty cycle of each smart nozzle of the plurality of smart nozzles.4. The sprayer control system of claim 2, wherein the master node isconfigured to control a spray droplet size of the liquid agriculturalproduct from the plurality of spray nozzles according to control of thesystem pressure.
 5. The sprayer control system of claim 2, where eachECU of each smart nozzle of the plurality of smart nozzles determinesthe target flow rate and the duty cycle independent of other ECUs of theplurality of smart nozzles.
 6. The sprayer control system of claim 2,wherein each ECU is configured to receive at least one value from themaster node including a speed of a sprayer boom, a target system flowrate, a yaw rate of the sprayer boom, or a location of the smart nozzlealong the sprayer boom.
 7. The sprayer control system of claim 6,wherein the target system flow rate is in units of volume per unit area,and the target flow rate is in units of volume per unit time.
 8. Thesprayer control system of claim 2, wherein each ECU is configured todetermine the duty cycle based on at least the determined target flowrate, the error correction and one or more of speed of a sprayer boom,target system flow rate, a yaw rate of the sprayer boom, or a locationof the smart nozzle along the sprayer boom.
 9. The sprayer controlsystem of claim 2, further comprising a locating module including one ormore location fiducials, the one or more location fiducials areconfigured to mark the location of one or more of the plurality of smartnozzles.
 10. The sprayer control system of claim 9, wherein the dutycycle for the one or more spray nozzles is determined based on one ormore of the location or speed of one or more of the plurality of smartnozzles.
 11. The sprayer control system of claim 2 comprising one ormore of: a master flow meter configured to measure the actual systemflow rate, the system pressure valve, the system pump, or the one ormore spray nozzles.
 12. A method to control spray characteristics ofspray nozzles in a sprayer system comprising: controlling the sprayersystem with a master node: controlling a system pressure of a liquidagricultural product, the system pressure corresponds to a specifiedspray droplet size, and determining an error correction based on thedifference between an actual system flow rate and a sum of target flowrates; controlling a plurality of duty cycles of a plurality of smartnozzles, controlling a duty cycle of the plurality of duty cycles for asmart nozzle of the plurality of smart nozzles includes: determining thetarget flow rate for one or more spray nozzles with an electroniccontrol unit (ECU) of a smart nozzle of the plurality of smart nozzles,determining the duty cycle for the one or more spray nozzles with theECU, the duty cycle based on the target flow rate and the errorcorrection, and operating at least one control valve with the ECU todeliver the liquid agricultural product to the one or more spray nozzlesaccording to the duty cycle.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereindetermining the duty cycle with the ECU includes determining the dutycycle with the ECU independently from controlling the system pressurewith the master node.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein controllingthe system pressure includes maintaining a static system pressure withthe master node corresponding to the specified spray droplet size, andcontrolling the plurality of duty cycles includes changing the dutycycle while maintaining the static system pressure.
 15. The method ofclaim 12 comprising controlling a spray droplet size to the specifiedspray droplet size according to the controlling of the system pressure.16. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the duty cycle includesindependently determining the duty cycle relative to other determinedduty cycles of the plurality of duty cycles.
 17. The method of claim 12,wherein determining the target flow rate includes determining the targetflow rate with the ECU based on one or more of a speed of a sprayerboom, a system target flow rate, a yaw rate of the sprayer boom, or alocation of the smart nozzle along the sprayer boom.
 18. The method ofclaim 12, wherein determining the target flow rate includes determiningthe target flow rate with the ECU based on a location of the smartnozzle along the sprayer boom.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein eachsmart nozzle includes the ECU, at least one control valve, and one ormore spray nozzles in communication with the at least one control valve.